Done in a Day: Wall Calendar

Article by Jessica Thuston

Create a can’t-ignore calendar that has a secret underneath―a layer of cork so the calendar doubles as a wall-size bulletin board.

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Cork Board Wall

The wallpaper hanger glued the cork to the bare wall first and then installed raffia wallpaper on top. Using textured paper such as raffia or grasscloth is key―it hides holes left by pushpins. To make the calendar, all you’ll need is a measuring tape, scissors, grosgrain ribbon, large upholstery tacks, and self-fastening strips to attach the numbers, days of the week, and month labels.

Step 1

Begin your grid with eight lengths of grosgrain ribbon placed vertically, securing each end with a large upholstery tack. (The dimensions of your wall will determine the size of your calendar. Remember to allow room at the top for the month and days.) Space the columns evenly; we used a standard 8 1⁄2- x 11-inch piece of paper as a guide.

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Step 2

Create six horizontal rows for your grid with seven lengths of additional grosgrain ribbon, securing intersection points with upholstery tacks. Again, we used the 8 1⁄2- x 11-inch piece of paper to keep the squares uniform in size.

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Step 3

Adhere labels with self- fastening strips to make adjusting the calendar each month easier. We created the numbers, days of the week, and months on a computer and printed them out on heavy ivory cardstock with brown ink. Get creative with different fonts and typestyles.

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Step 4

Fill up your calendar with party invitations, reminder notes, and appointment cards. It’s a great tool to keep a busy family organized and on time. Set aside some space for snapshots and children’s favorite artwork.